Her Backup Boyfriend (The Sorensen Family 1)

It was exactly the kind of love he was looking for.

He wanted Sunday dinners with his own large brood. Dinners where he and his wife shared warm looks of love that made everyone around them roll their eyes or grimace in disgust knowing what they’d be doing later.

He sneaked a carrot from the saucepan and took a bite. “How’s Dad doing?”

She shook her head. “Stubborn. He’s in bed and refuses to come out for dinner. He’s been hiding out there all afternoon. I think he’s afraid the slightest stress will set him back for his surgery. Why don’t you go see him? Maybe you can get him to at least come to the sofa. I’ll fix him a tray.”

“A lot of good I’ll do, but I’ll try my best.”

Although his dad had recovered from the heart attack that nearly took him from his family three years earlier, the heart condition that caused the attack—dilated cardiomyopathy—still plagued him. His doctors hoped the pacemaker he was scheduled to receive in a few more weeks would improve his health.

Ten minutes later, Dominic appeared for dinner—without his dad. He shook his head at his mother’s expectant face. She tried to smile, but he could tell she was concerned.

Dominic and his family had done their best over the years to ease the stress on the old man. He’d even pulled out of the U, where he had been working toward his architecture degree, to help cover for his dad at the family construction business. It had been the right things to do at the time—even if his then girlfriend, Melinda, hadn’t agreed—and he had no regrets. If it helped his dad’s stress level and the toll on his heart, it was worth it. Family came first.

He only hoped that his dad would understand that now that things were taking a positive turn, Dominic was ready to get back to his own life. Realize his own dreams. And he hoped his dad wouldn’t be too hurt.

“Hey, I want to sit with everyone else,” Paul whined when he saw the adults take their places around the table and realized he and his sisters were to sit up at the bar.

“There’s only one spot left, little man, at the head of the table,” Cruz said, referring to their father’s empty spot. Cruz took his usual seat at the foot of the table. The eldest, he liked to remind his siblings of his place as leader. They let him think so. “Are you ready to assume the responsibility of sitting as the head of the family?”

Paul nodded. “Mama already tells me I have to be brave because I’m now the man of the house. Right, Mama?”

“That’s right, buddy.” Daisy attempted a smile, but her heart was clearly not in it. Her wide, dark brown eyes looked drawn and tired. Not at all like the bossy older sister he knew. When he got a hold of Leo, her two-timing shit of a husband, he was going to give him something to remember. “I suppose you can sit here. Let your aunt Benny help you cut your food.”

Paul picked up his plate and strutted to the table, almost preening. Dominic’s mom smoothed his dark hair when he took the seat next to her, pride shining in her eyes.

“Make sure you eat every bite, kiddo,” Benny said and leaned over to cut his pork chop for him. “You don’t want to end up weak and frail like your uncles.”

“Listen to your auntie. She’ll show you how to grow hair on your chest,” Dominic quipped, earning an elbow in the belly even as Benny’s blue eyes sparkled.

“Can I see? Really?” Paul chirped, his gaze already steady on his aunt’s chest, which in her overlarge tee looked as shapeless as a potato sack.

“You won’t find anything there,” Cruz chimed in and Dominic chuckled while Paul looked up at the adults, truly perplexed.

“I could take you both anytime,” Benny bit back. Beautiful in a more understated way than Daisy, Benny was the youngest, and had never been apologetic for her tomboyish ways. “You’ve both gotten soft in your old age. What are you guys pushing, like forty? I’d bet Paul could put you down in under a minute.”

“Thirty-five, brat,” Cruz said. “And I can whoop pretty boy’s ass here”—he pointed to Dominic—“as well as yours. Anytime.”

“Language,” their mother reminded them, and Cruz grinned.

“Should we have a little game after dinner?” Benny just didn’t give up. “Two on two. Let’s put your false bravado to the test. Dominic and I could totally take you and Daisy, as always. I’ll even let you have Paul.”

Paul whooped and immediately started begging to be included. Daisy, however, didn’t bite and barely realized what was going on around her.

Dom exchanged looks with his siblings. He knew that aside from his sister’s heartache, she was trying her damnedest to keep her family afloat, struggling with all the debt her ex had taken on but was now nowhere to help pay it off. She needed help—legal help—and that was going to cost her. For a minute, he considered the possibility of talking to his aunt’s feisty new neighbor, even if to get a referral for a reliable divorce attorney, but dismissed the thought right away. Because as proud as Daisy was, she wouldn’t take any financial assistance from them. She wanted to figure it out herself.

Even if it killed her.

He shook his head. There was more than one heart that needed fixing in this family.

Chapter Four

Kate opened the door Wednesday evening, surprised at her nervousness. Almost like she was going out on a date or something, which was completely ridiculous. This was strictly business. She needed someone to help figure out what work had to be done on the house, and Dominic was offering some guidance.

But…he looked good. His too-long hair was wavy and, from the sheen on it, looked wet, like he’d just stepped out of the shower. As if planned, the wind chose that moment to kick up and blow a lock of his hair across his forehead.

Lord, help her.